Stretcher for articles of clothing



Feb. 17, 1942. M. H. HOLMES 2,273,489

STRETCHER FOR ARTICLES OF CLOTHING Filed May 1940 I ]6.- FW 14 2,5 xINVENTOR 611 z A Y HANBY HOLMES i Patented Feb. 17, 1942 UNETED staresPATENT QFFICE STRETCHER FOR ARTICLES F CLOTHING Mary Hanby Holmes,Bexhill-on- Sea, England Application May 27, 1940, Serial No. 337,529 InGreat Britain May 30, 1939 7 Claims.

This invention comprises improvements in or relating to lasts, trees orstretchers for boots, shoes, gloves or the like. It is an object of theinvention toprovide a boot tree or a stretcher or form for gloves orother articles of clothing which is easily applied, light and can bestowed compactly when out of use.

According to the present invention such an article is made of inflatableflexible material, such as rubber, and provided with means for inflatingand deflating it at W111.

The means for inflation may eitherbe a valve through which the articlecan be inflated by the mouth or by a pump, or some form of pumpingdevice may be provided as a permanent part of the tree or stretcheritself.

The following is a description, by way of example, of variousconstructions in accordance with the invention, reference being madetothe accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation partlyin section of a boot tree in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail of an alternative means of inflation;

Figure 3 is a similar detail of a further alternative;

Figure 4 shows a glove stretcher, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a dressmakers dummy.

Referring to Figure l, the tree comprises an I inflatable rubber bodyportion II which is covered by stretchable knitted fabric l2. Theinflatable rubber body portion is made of a shape which corresponds inmaterial respects with the shape of the interior of a shoe, althoughowing 1 to the elasticity of the rubber, this conformity with the shoeneed not be exact and the size is preferably such as will readily gointo the smallest shoe or boot with which the boot tree is intended tobe used. At the top just above the ankle portion there is a metallicdiaphragm l3 which closes the leg opening and in the centre of thediaphragm is a valve opening M which is covered by a strip of rubber i5on the underside, constituting a valve which opens inwardly.

Over the valve is secured the bellows l6 by the use of which the treecan be inflated. The bellows comprises a cylindrical corrugated bodyportion, which may be of moulded india-rubber and is closed at the topby a diaphragm l1 provided with a suction valve opening l8 covered onthe inside by a flexible rubber strip IS. The diaphragm l1 carries anoperating push rod provided with a press knob 2|. The push rod 20 slidesthrough a guide 22 in a stirrup 23 which I is secured to the diaphragml3 and rises on either side around the bellows It. The stirrup 23provides a convenient grip through which the fingers of the users handcan be inserted and then by pressure of the palmof the hand on the knob2| the bellows can be forced downwardly. A spring 24 provides for thereturn motion. By operating the bellows the tree can readily be inflatedafter it has been inserted in a boot or shoe. side of the diaphragm l3,this valve being closed by a screwed valve element which has a knurledhead 26. On unscrewing the knurled head 26 the deflating valve will beopened and permit the tree to be collapsed for storage.

The sole portion of the inflatable body Ii may be covered with a sock 21of asbestos or other absorbent material which serves the multiplefunctions of somewhat stiffening the sole of the tree, of protecting therubber H from any nails which may be exposed in the interior of the shoeor boot and of absorbing moisture, thus facilitating the drying of theboot or shoe if wet. Further, the sock 21 may be impregnated if desiredwith a deodorant'or disinfectant.

In use the tree, after being inserted in the boot or shoe is inflateduntil it fills the boot or shoe and presses out all the creases in theleather from within, thus becoming a very efficient kind of last ortree. It is an advantage of the invention that the last or tree will fita considerable number of sizes and widths of boot or shoe withoutadjustment. Moreover when deflated it readily packs into a small spaceand the weight is less than that of the usual rigid wooden trees, whilethe supporting pressure inside the boot or shoe when in use is exertedover the whole of the interior, which is not the case with the usualkind of folding stretchers.

Referring to Figure 2, this shows a diaphragm 28 for use as analternative to the diaphragm 13 of Figure 1. It comprises a ball valve29 open ing inwardly against a spring 30 and a nipple 3| which can beinflated either by fixing a rubber tube on to it from, say a footballpump, or where the internal pressure is not required to be considerableit can be inflated by the mouth. As before there is a deflating valveprovided.

Figure 3 shows a further alternative diaphragm 32 which can be used inplace of the diaphragm l3 and carries an inflating valve 33 of a similartype to that used on bicycles so that it can be inflated by an ordinarybicycle pump. Deflation can be effected by unscrewing this valve.

The invention can be employed for stretching A deflating valve 25 isprovided in the gloves if desired and Figure 4 shows a glove stretcherconsisting of an inflatable rubber body portion 34 which has a diaphragm35 closing the rest and a bellows 3B which can be operated to inflateit. The bellows carries a curved pressure member 31 for operating by thepalm of the hand and the diaphragm 35 has two curved ears 38 which maybe gripped by the fingers so that inflation can be easily performed withone hand. The spring for returning the bellows is in this case locatedinside them. A deflating Valve 25 is provided as before.

Figure 5 shows the application of the invention to a lay figure. Thefigure comprises an inflatable rubber body portion 40 moulded to theshape desired and closed at the bottom by a rigid diaphragm 4|. Otherdiaphragms 42 are provided at the location of the arms and a diaphragm43 at the neck. A valve 44 is provided for inflation and a valve 45 fordeflation.

The lay figure can be made by different degrees of inflation to servefor different sizes. It will be understood that parts of the body 40which are required to stretch less than others when inflation occurs canbe made of thicker material or reinforced by fabric or otherwise, asindicated at 46, 41.

I claim: v

1. A form for supporting articles of clothing comprising in combinationa hollow or flexible form-member pre-shaped to yield on inflationapproximately the shape of the interior of the article to be supported,a diaphragm extending across one end of the form-member, a nonreturninlet valve in said diaphragm, a pumping device permanently mounted onthe diaphragm to inflate said form-member through said valve, and meanson the diaphragm afiording a grip whereby the pumping device can bereadily operated.

2. A boot tree comprising in combination an inflatable rubber treeportion adapted to fit the interior of a boot or shoe, when inflated, adiaphragm closing the same across the ankle portion, and a bellowssecured to the diaphragm and provided with a spring return so that thebellows can be reciprocated by repeated application of pressure thereto.

3. A boot tree comprising in combination an inflatable rubber treeportion adapted to fit the interior of a boot or shoe, when inflated, adiaphragm closing the same across the ankle portion, a bellows securedto the diaphragm, a stirrup member is provided on the diaphragm to guidethe free end of the bellows and an operating plunger is provided on thebellows which slides through the stirrup member, so that the tree can beinflated by one hand by grasping the stirrup member and plunger.

4. A form for articles of clothing as claimed in claim 1 provided with arelief valve to facilitate deflation, said valve being capable of beingopened by movement of an appropriate valve member when desired.

5. A boot tree as claimed in claim 1 provided with a relief valve tofacilitate deflation, said valve being capable of being opened bymovement of an appropriate valve member when desired.

6. A glove stretcher having the features set forth in claim 1.

7. A form for articles of clothing as claimed in claim 1 wherein theform-member is of indiarubber covered with knitted fabric.

MARY HANBY HOLMES.

